From what little I knew about Paraguayan history by reading some articles about it in preparation for taking on Roa Bastos' literature, I could understand that something was not quite right in the head of the ruling elites. How come a little landlocked country could ever think to go to war against Brazil and Argentina? How come they always had a sense of pride which is extremely difficult to understand? I found an answer of sorts when I read this portrayal of the Chaco War and the circumstances [...]

Paraguay"But death wanted to keep him alive and alone like an animal in a cage.""I want your wife. I'll give you 300 pantacones for her. The exact amount of your debt. You should take advantage of such an offer. What's a concubine after all.""She's not my concubine. We're married.""Married! it's the same thing. Concubine of wife, it's all the same here. They're women, when all's said and done. With a hole between their legs. That's all we want them for, especially if they're pretty.""They never [...]

The casual history of the country of Paraguay in fiction form, through the eyes of two characters. Miguel Vera is the privileged, educated but fallible narrator, while 'Kiritó', Cristobal Jara, is the steely-eyed hero from the lower classes for whom nothing Paraguay throws his way is too much to bear.I love this book, but I'm hard pressed to understand which parts I like specifically when I re-read it. Hijo de hombre is filled with an edgy, uncertain mood that reflects Paraguay itself, both cou [...]